FFReport Senior Writer, George Kurtz, is back for another installment of “Behind The Lines”, a column that takes you in depth into each and every match-up of the week. Point Spreads, Fantasy Impact, and all the details you need to know for this week in the NFL. Featuring FSG’s brand-new NFL Breakdowns to give you all the stats you want and all the latest up to date news that you need. The Fantasy Sports Group has you covered for all of your football needs, all at one simple user-friendly site.

Seattle is coming off a bye, which is a good thing, because the only chance they would seem to have in this game is because they had two weeks to prepare.  Left tackle Walter Jones was placed on IR this week meaning he may have played his last game in the NFL.  QB Matt Hasselback still has sore ribs but will start.  Those ribs should be much sorer by the end of the game as the Cowboys will not respect the Seahawks running game, but will be aiming to hit Hasselback early and often.  As for the Cowboys they have finally seemed to hit their offensive stride.  Quarterback Tony Romo looked as good as he ever has in Week 7 versus Atlanta.  It’s amazing how well a QB can play when he has a Wide Receiver who can make plays for you.  Miles Austin may end up saving the Cowboy season.

Fantasy Impact:  Running back Tashard Choice can be safely placed back on your fantasy bench. 

Prediction:  Seattle

These two teams played just a few weeks ago in what was an extremely entertaining Monday night football game.  The Dolphins were able to run all over the Jets as they were able to come back from three fourth quarter deficits to defeat the Jets.  Once again the wildcat offense worked wonders for the Dolphins as the Jets and head coach Rex Ryan had no answer for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.  Quarterbacks Chad Henne and Mark Sanchez had productive nights for their respective teams and Wide Receiver Braylon Edwards had a huge impact in his first game with the Jets.  For the Dolphins, their WR corps is a mess.  Ted Ginn has been demoted and the Dolphins will decide who starts this week by how well they play in practice.

Fantasy Impact: With the loss of running back Leon Washington for the season, Shonn Greene is a must pickup in most leagues as he will get the carries that normally would have gone to Washington.

Prediction:  Jets

Suddenly the Giants have lost back to back games, and with another loss here, will no longer be in first in the NFC East.  Quarterback Eli Manning has looked just a bit off in the past couple of games.  One has to wonder if his heel is still bothering him.  Wide Receiver Hakeem Nicks is out playing Mario Manningham right and one has to wonder when he will replace him in the starting lineup.  Running back Brian Westbrook will almost certainly miss the game on Sunday after being knocked out cold against the Redskins Monday night.  The Eagles are saying he is a game time decision, but he has a concussion, hasn’t practiced this week, tough to see him playing.

Fantasy Impact: With Westbrook probably out, LeSean McCoy becomes a definite start here.  Giants RB Ahman Bradshaw has a cracked bone on the outside of his foot, but will attempt to play.

Prediction:  Philadelphia

With both teams coming off of a bye, neither one can complain.  This is a huge game for Baltimore as they can’t afford to fall any further behind Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.  The Ravens are not the same team defensively as in years past which is good news for the Broncos running game.  Quarterback Kyle Orton should also have a good game as the Ravens have been porous against the pass all season.  The Ravens will look to get running back Ray Rice going as he has been the key to their offense so far this season.

Fantasy Impact: Don’t be afraid to start your Broncos, not much has been going right defensively for the Ravens the past few weeks.

Prediction:  Denver

Like the Cowboys, the Texans seem to be running on all cylinders.  The big worry is the health of Wide Receiver Andre Johnson.  He is questionable this week with a bruised lung and will probably be a game time decision.  Even if he is unable to play, the Texans still have WRs Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones.  Jones seems to be the hotter of the two right now.  Tight End Owen Daniels has been on fire of late and is a must play.  Running back Steve Slaton has been good of late with the exception of putting the ball on the ground a twice in each of the past two weeks.  He needs to correct that or he will start to lose some playing time.  Ryan Fitzpatrick will probably start at quarterback once again for the Bills as Trent Edwards is still trying to recover from a concussion.  While he may not excite fantasy owners, he has won back to back games.  Running back Marshawn Lynch is the starter and Fred Jackson has been relegated to a few carries here and there and maybe some work on punt returns.

Fantasy Impact: If you’re looking for a receiver, Lee Evans has scored touchdowns in each of the past two weeks with Fitzpatrick at quarterback.

Prediction:  Houston

Cleveland is a nuclear wasteland; maybe you start running back Jamal Lewis or Wide Receiver Mohamed Massaquoi if you’re desperate, maybe.  As for Chicago Quarterback Jay Cutler just has to make sure his receivers are the ones catching the ball.  If running back Matt Forte is ever going to have a breakout game this would be it.

Fantasy Impact: Apparently the reason Browns running back Jerome Harrison hasn’t been playing much of late was because they don’t like the way he has blocked in pass protection.

Prediction:  Chicago

This was actually a headline in the Detroit Free Press this week “Lions need to not overlook the Rams”.  Are you kidding me, when did the Lions become good enough to look past a high school team more or less another NFL team.  Rams running back Steven Jackson will get his first rushing touchdown of the season here, and I would start him.  As for the Lions, hard to know who to start with quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson both being questionable for this week.

Fantasy Impact:  Keep an eye on who starts for Detroit.  If Johnson starts, then I would start him regardless of who the QB is.

Prediction:  St. Louis

Quarterback Alex Smith has been handed the keys to the 49ers offense and he will absolutely get a chance to show what he can do in this game.  The 49ers will try and keep the Colts offense off the field with running back Frank Gore and the running game, but once that proves fruitless, Smith will be forced to throw, and throw often.  The switch to Smith from Shaun Hill is good news for the 49er receivers as Smith has a much stronger are and will force opposing defenses to defend the whole team.  The Colts have been playing lights out so far this season.  Quarterback Peyton Manning is having another MVP type season.  Running back Donald Brown will most likely miss the game with a shoulder injury.  Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez has not practiced all week and will not play.

Fantasy Impact: Colts receiver Reggie Wayne missed practice on Thursday with a groin injury, make sure to keep an eye on his status.

Prediction:  San Francisco

Quarterback David Garrard lit up the Titans defense the last time these two teams met.  Unless you think the Titans solved their secondary problems during their bye week, I’d start him once again.  The Titans will start Vince Young at quarterback over Kerry Collins.  I agree with this move as they have to find out if Young has a future with the organization.

Fantasy Impact: I certainly wouldn’t start any Titan receivers this week.

Prediction:  Jacksonville

Raiders = disaster, don’t start anyone.  As for the Chargers, the biggest thing I’m looking forward to seeing this week is if running back LaDainian Tomlinson can get untracked and finally get into the end zone. 

Fantasy Impact: I know there is a good chance that cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will probably cover WR Vincent Jackson, but I would still start him.

Prediction:  San Diego

This may be Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme last chance to remain the starter.  Another turnover or two and he could find himself on the bench.  Kind of ironic seeing as though this is where his troubles started.  Delhomme’s struggles are hurting the entire team as wide receiver Steve Smith is having a subpar season as Delhomme can’t get him the ball regularly.  With the passing game out of sync teams have been able to concentrate of stopping the running game.   DeAngelo Williams will still get his yards, but is not having the big season he had in 2008.

Fantasy Impact: Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin is still nursing a sprained ankle and will not be 100% for this game, but should play.

Prediction:  Arizona

The game of the week.  The return of quarterback Brett Favre to Green Bay.  You know the Packer faithful have been waiting for his return.  I’m sort of wishing he runs in a touchdown just so I can see what happens if he does the Lambeau leap.  As for the game, the Vikings are going to feed the ball to running back Adrian Peterson to keep the heat off of Favre.  Favre has had a good thing going with wide receiver Sydney Rice and they have developed some chemistry.  The Packers need to keep the Minnesota defensive line off of Rodgers and give him time to throw.  Rodgers was harassed the entire game when they played in Minnesota a few weeks ago.

Fantasy Impact:  Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings has yet to get untracked this season, but this could be the game he has been waiting for as Minnesota will be without Antoine Winfield which could help the Packers hit some deep balls.

Prediction:  Minnesota

Atlanta had a pretty bad game against Dallas last week.  Could they have been looking ahead to this game?  If they were, they had better be ready.  Dallas hung 37 points on Atlanta, and while the Cowboys have a good offense, it’s not the Saints.  The Saints will look to follow the Cowboys game plan and stop the running game of Michael Turner, and harass quarterback Matt Ryan into mistakes.  The Falcons need to get Turner going so they can run the ball and keep the Saints offense off the field.  As good as the Falcons offense can be, they don’t want to get into a shootout with New Orleans, especially in the Superdome.

Fantasy Impact:  Everyone starts here, I don’t know what the over is, but I’m taking it.

Prediction:  New Orleans

LAST WEEK: 8-4-1

OVERALL: 65-37-1

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